Hello,

I was just wondering if feeling disoriented is a symptom of depression, like having a hard time making a decission over something relatively simple, causing anxiety.. Thanks for your feedback....

i think it certainly can be.

when i get depressed, often times i just can't make myself care enough about something to make even the simplest decision. or i get into one of those "what difference does it make" kind of moods.

as well, i tend to not eat for days at a time sometimes when i get really down, which can lead to literal disorientation and not being able to move correctly.

Hey!
Is that not called derealization? I had it really badly for a while and decisions are almost impossible, I used to not even beable to decide what to eat for breakfast so I wouldn't at all!
Holi

Hey Lovemyway,
I certainly think it is a symptom of depression... I have been experiencing that a whole lot lately.. It feels so weird, and no one really understands what it's like unless they have gone through it.. so, they think im just going crazy.. but i know it's part of my depression... either that, or my medicine... http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/round.gif

[This message has been edited by bloodytears (edited 04-29-2003).]

That was one of my first signs of depression and after all the desperate research I did to figure out why I was feeling this way, I found that it is a common symptom some people with depression. However, it is often found with anxiety or people who have extreme anxiety or fear that results in depression.

Just wondering if there is anything that can be done about it without taking meds. I have a friend who is going through this and I don't know what to do for him. He is having a hard time making decisions.

LoveMyWay71:

It certainly can be a symptom of depression. My therapist calls it disassociation. According to her, it's the brain's way of coping when overwhelmed. I had it big time before I started on medication. I felt like I was on the outside looking in at the world, and as if my world was moving in super slow motion.

It and the anxiety will go away with time and treatment.

Hang in there.....

Dragonfly

I do not know if having problems making decisions is a symptom depression. I actually do not know the strict definition of depression.

I can tell you that I personally was having tremendous problems making decisions. I was making mountains out of mole hills. I knew it, but I couldn't help myself. I posted a long post about putting off painting my kitchen for a year or so because I couldn't decide what color to paint it etc.

Another bizarre example was ironing. I would iron my shirt and constantly debate with myself the best most efficient way to iron it.

I think a lot of the inability to make decisions etc. was because I was lacking sleep. And a big piece was needless worrying. Plus, at work I am constantly problem solving.

You say that you feel disoriented. I don't know if you mean feeling detached from yourself or what. I haven't been experiencing that, although I have experienced it for a time in my teens.

Hangtenvetter says, "
"I posted a long post about putting off painting my kitchen for a year or so because I couldn't decide what color to paint it etc."

HANGTENVETTER, WOW! I just left the Home & Garden boards a few minutes ago because I've been having a horrible time trying to decide on what colors to paint various rooms in my home. I've ultimately decided to stay with my white walls until I can get past this dip in my depression. Part of the problem is that certain colors evoke certain moods in me. I've become obsessive over it, and it's just too stressful right now.

Oh, and to the originator of this post (sorry, I forgot your name), yes, difficulty in making decisions is DEFINITELY one of the symptoms of depression. In fact, I just had a discussion with my psychiatrist about this very issue yesterday, and told him I am driving myself nuts over not being able to make decisions. I'm in the process of changing my meds (from Celexa to Lexapro) because I've been under more stress lately, and my Celexa isn't working as well for me. Actually, I'm hoping I'll have less fatigue on the Lexapro.
Also, as others here have suggested, there is a defense mechanism called "derealization" and another called "depersonalization." It kicks in especially at times when you're feeling overwhelmed with anxiety. Some people explain it like this: "Although you know you're really here, you feel detached from yourself or the environment, like you're watching yourself in a movie." I think it also happens when when we don't want to be in touch with our feelings, like when we want to "disappear from ourselves." Hope I'm making sense. To compare a similar experience, have you ever noticed that after a long, boring drive, you wonder how you got from Point A to Point B, because you don't remember much about the drive itself? I guess it happens because we get lost in our thoughts. Well, it's the same sort of feeling, and is so common that it's called "highway hypnosis," which nearly everyone experiences. Well, I could go on, but I'm falling asleep now, as it's nearly 2 a.m. Hope this helps.

I hope you do not mind me replying to this msg. I understand and have felt each and every one of the descriptions of "disassociation", "detached", "watching the events around you and not feeling as if you are participating in it". I recently began zoloft and have now been put on lexapro(spelling??) I am now on my way to returning to life, even though just beginning the get well process it is much, much better than the 3 months I spent prior to this trying to get well. Hang in there everyone. God Bless you all.